Apparatus for production of artificial filaments



G. A. M. HEIM Nov. 5, 1940.

2,220,403 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS Filed July 7. 1938 2 SheetsSheet 2 I EwiavAz/Zfim Patented Nov. 5, 1940 APPARATUS FOR. PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS A Gustav A. M. Heim, Velp, Netherlands, assignor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application July 7, 193s. Serial No. 217,996 In Germany July 28, 1937 4 Claims.

This invention relates to artificial silk materials and to a process of and apparatus for producing such materials. More particularly the invention is directed to artificial silk in which 5 the filaments or threads thereof have a nonsystematic denier variation and to an'apparatus and process employed in their production.

The production of artificial yarns or threads and the utilization of the same in the formation of various types of fabrics presented many problems due in part to imperfections of the'fini'shed yarns or threads as prepared for the normal operations involved in the manufacture of knitted and woven fabrics. Almost from the very inception of the artificial silk industry these problems were recognized and there has been a constant and progressive advancein the art as a result of which artificial silk fabrics are now offered generally in competition with other standard fabrics. However, it has been found that while slight imperfections in the yarns, filaments or threads in the form of denier variations are objectionable, novel effects in a finished fabric may be produced if the filaments, yarns or threads are spun in a manner to produce accentuated non-systematic denier variations as'distinguished from objectionable imperfections.

It has heretofore been suggested that the manufacture of artificial filaments with intentional 3O systematic denier variations may be efiected in a process in which the supply of the spinning solution to the spinnerets is systematically irregular. Additionally it has been suggested that the same result may be attained by applying a drag or braking action to the thread during its passage from the spinneret to the drawing off device. Further, it has been proposed to produce such denier variations in artificial threads by causing the spinneret during the spinning oper- 40 ation to alternately approach and retract from the drawing oflf device. Nevertheless, each of the heretofore proposed methods failed in one or more respects to accomplish the intended result. In the process in which the occurrence of variations in the thread could be had by such a" process because rapid movement of the spinneret would create a prohibitory motionirr-th'e bath.

denier variations is effected by varying the length The various known means for producing systematic denier variations are also unsatisfactory in that undesirable pattern effects are created in the fabrics made therefrom.-

- This invention has as an object the production of artificial filaments, yarns and threads, hereinafter referred to as filaments, in which denier variations thereof are very pronounced and are non-uniform in length and occurrence. For the purposes of the present specification and 10' claims, the thicker portions of the yarn will be hereinafter called ubs.

This invention contemplates the formation'of artificial silk filaments" which have denier variations of relatively high degree While such variations are substantially free of systematic, re-

currence.

A mechanism by which artificial silk filaments may be manipulatedduring the spinning of the same for producing denier variations of the 20 character specified also forms a part ofthis in vention. v

The mechanism contemplated by this invention in its specific preferred embodiment comprises a conoid drive, the shifting of the belt of which will change the frequency of engagement of electrical contact memberswhich are initially responsible for the denier variations in the filaments.

Additionally this invention has as an object the d provision of a process for the production of. artificial silk filaments whereby novel effects will be produced in fabric in which they are incorpo rated, the novel effects resulting from the nons'ystematic variations in the denier of the filaments and the nubs formed at varying intervals. This is particularly pleasing because it has been found that materials wholly orpartly fabricated of filaments having non-systematic, irregular denier variations are obtainable, even when dyed, printed or otherwise colored in a single operation. Moreover, they have varying dyeing characteristics and multitudinous unpredictable color effects.

Other objects-and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a diagrammatic View .of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the 56 invention for spinning artificial filaments in which the guide deviceintroduced in the path of travel of the filaments from the spinneret to the collecting device for causing denier variations therein is shown in operative position;- 55

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic: illustration of part of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1, but

also includes the electrical circuits employed to effect the movement of the guide device;

Figure 3 is a sectional view' taken on line 3--3- of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a detailed view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In referring to the drawings in detail the numeral I0 designates a spinneret positioned as shown in a coagulating bath II'. A thread guide I2 may be provided in the bath, although this is not necessary. From a suitable source (not shown) a spinning solution is caused to be extruded from the spinneret I0 as filaments I3 in accordance with any of the well known practices.

In the case of a wet spinning process as illustrated the filaments are drawn through the coagulating bath II and may be then directed around the thread guide I2 whereupon they are propelled to a draw off godet or collecting device I4 such as a bobbin or centrifugal bucket operated in accordance with the usual practice. Thread guide I2 may be omitted and the filaments led directly from the spinneret to the collecting device.

Between the draw off device I4 and spinneret III "a pivoted lever or pendulum I5 is positioned. Lever I5 is fixed to a shaft I6 and mounted for oscillation therewith. At its free end lever I5 is provided with a guide roller I'I. Arranged on lever I5 between guide roller I and the shaft I6 and preferably close to the shaft is another guide roller I8. Succeeding portions of filaments I3 in their passage to the draw off device I4 after being directed around thread guide I2 are directed over guide roller I1 and then under guide roller I8 whereupon they pass through traverse guide I 9 adjacent the draw off device.

In being propelled through the path as described the filaments are caused to follow the course provided by the arrangement of lever I5 and guide rollers I1 and I8 and since lever I5 is oscillated within a varying sector during a spinning operation, succeeding portions of the filaments will be caused to extend and travel in paths of different lengths between spinneret I6 and draw offvdevice I4. As guide roller I8 is immediately'adjacent shaft I6 the oscillation of its carrying lever I 5 does not greatly effect a change in the length of the filament path of travel between roller I8 and the draw off device.

Guide roller I! has its shaft mounted for adjustment within slot 20 in lever I5 and since it is the movement of guide roller I! which is primarily responsible for the change in the filament path, similar adjustability of guide roller I8 is not necessary.

During a spinning operation it is desirable sometimes to limit the extremes of oscillation of lever I5 and as will appear from Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings shaft I6 is provided with a fixed extension 2| which is adapted to engage with adjustable-stops 22 and 23 respectively at its extreme upper and lower positions. Stops 22 and 23 are supported by plate 24 which is secured to the support for shaft I6.

The operating mechanism for causing lever I5 to oscillate is constructed in a manner which will cause the lever to oscillate irregularly and nonsystematically within a varying sector. This meechanism is provided with a main electrical circuit 25 and an auxiliary control circuit 26. Control circuit-26 includes an electrical power source 28, an electro-magnet 29, armature 36,

normallyheld out of contact by spring member 21, conductor rails 3| and 32, connecting leads 33 and 34 and wiping contacting members 35 and 36 mounted on the respective rails 3| and 32 for sliding movement thereon. When member 35 contacts with member 36 the auxiliary circuit 26 is closed and the electro-magnet 29 is energized for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

A driving shaft 31 mounted in bearings 38 is arranged adjacent to and parallel with rail 3| and 1 this shaft is adapted to be rotated through the mediumof a pulley 39 by a source of power (not shown). At the end remote from pulley 39, shaft 31 has keyed thereto a gear 40 which is maintained inconstant'engagement with a wide slid- 1 ing gear 4|. Gear 4| is formed on the hub of a cone 42,..of a friction clutch 43 and the hub is mounted for rotation upon a shaft 44 which is mounted for rotation in bearing 45. Fixed to shaft 44 is a friction clutch member 46 which is 2 adaptedtto be engaged by the cone 42, which member 46 is provided with a sprocket 41 having mounted thereon a chain 48.

Chain .48 is mounted over a sprocket 49 which is in. turn keyed to shaft I6 whereby the lever I5, 2 shaft I6 sprockets 4'! and 49 and chain 48 are all caused to move in unison. As is shown in Figure 2 any desired number of levers I5 may be mounted on shaft I6, depending upon the number of spinning pointsemployed. 3

The hub of cone clutch member 42 is provided with a peripheral groove 50 in which is engaged a clutch yoke 5| formed on lever 52 which is pivoted at 53. Lever 52 is biased by spring 54 to cause the frictional engagement of cone 42 and 3 member'46 of the clutch. Therefore, in normal operation the clutch members are engaged and the power applied to shaft 31 through pulley 39, is transmitted to the cone 42 and due to its fric-' tional engagement with clutch member 46, the 4 latter through the medium of the sprockets and chain, maintains shaft I6 in a position where extension 2I is in its upper position in'engagement with stop 22. Consequently levers i5 would be normally biased to the uppermost extreme of 4 the path of oscillation.

Pivoted lever 52 has thereon the armature 55 of electro-magnet 56 the latter forming a part of the maincircuit 25. Circuit 25 includes a source of electrical energy 51, leads 58, 59 and 66 and a quick action switch 6|. Upon the closing of switch 6| by contact of members 35 and 36, the main circuit is energized and the electro-magnet 56.overcomes the bias of lever 52 effected by spring 54 and thereby moves cone 42 so as to dis- 5 engage clutch 43. This allows lever I5 to drop of its own weight.

As has been discussed above, when the auxiliary circuit 26 has been energized in response to the contacting of members 35 and 36 which in 6 turn are actuated by the conoid drive 68-59, electro-magnet 29 causes the movement of arma ture 30 againstthe thrust of spring member 21' closing circuit 25. It will be seen that the contacting of members 35 and 36 will be irregularly 6 intermittent because of the change speed mechanism represented at 68 and 69 in its action on the cam wheels 62 and 63. Since the main circuit 25 is energized only upon the energization of the auxiliary circuit 26, the non-systematic olos- 7 ing of the auxiliary circuit will necessarily result in a non-systematic closing of the main circuit which in turn will result in a corresponding intermittent bias of lever 52 controlling clutch 43 operatively connectedto the guide roller II which is directly responsible for imparting the irregularl recurring nubs to the extruded filaments. '1 i H This irregularity of engagement of contacting members 35 and 36 is caused by thevariable 1'01- tation of grooved cam wheels 62 and 63 respectively, the grooves of which wheels have received therein pins 64 and 65 extending respectively from contact members 35 and 35. Cam wheel 62 is fixedly supported on shaft 31 and cam wheel 63 is fixedly supported upon a shaft 66 which is positioned parallel to rail 32 in a manner corresponding to the relative arrangement between rail 31 and shaft 31. Shaft 56 is mounted in bearings BI and a cone pulley 68 is fixed thereto. A similar cone pulley 69 in reverse position is fixed to shaft 3'! and the two pulleys are connected by a shiftable belt H1. The actuation of contacting members 35 and 36 by the mechanism just described will be effected upon the application of power to pulley 39 causing shaft 31 and cam wheel 62 to rotate. Through the medium of cones 68 and 69 and belt 16, shaft 66 and cam wheel 63 will be caused to rotate at the same or different speeds in response to the position of belt w. contact of the members, the shafts are operated at different speeds and the relative speeds may be changed by automatic or mechanical shifting of the belt. Due to the relative movements of the shafts and the cam wheels the period of duration of contact and the frequency of contact of the members 35 and 36 is continuously changed. This causes a difference in the sized arcs through which the lever [5 passes. The contact members at times will move in the same direction at different speeds, in the same direction at the same speed, in opposite directions at different speeds and in opposite directions at the same speed.

In the practising of the present process by the employment of the mechanism illustrated the spinnnig solution is extruded through the spinneret Ill and the filaments thus formed are drawn through the coagulating bath II and around thread guide l2. In the meantime power Upon contact of the members 35 and 36 auxiliary circuit 26 is closed and electro-magnet 29 is energized. Armature 39 is then moved to close switch 6| of the main circuit thereby energizing electro-magnet 53 thus actuating lever 52 which disengages the clutch members. Upon disengagement of the clutch members, lever l5 by force of gravity will drop to its lower extremity of its path of oscillation.

As contact members 35 and 36 are further propelled to a position out of mutual engagement both the auxiliary circuit 26 and the main circuit 25 will be opened and lever 52 will be biased by spring 54 which will cause frictional engagement of cone 42 and clutch member 46 whereupon lever [B will again proceed toward its upper position until the contact members again close the circuit.

In this manner succeeding portions of the freshly extruded filaments are caused to be In order to obtain the non-systematic at irregularly spaced points therealong, because asit'he leve'r l5 rises, the path of travel and stretch varies and when lever I5 falls, the tension. is. releasedand thick: portions or nubs created adjacentthe spinnaret. Succeeding portions of the filaments will. be of non-systematically varied denier .in response to the non-systematic oscillation of lever 15, the movement of the lever being initially under the control of the irregularly recurring contact of members 35 and 36. Moreover, when lever I5 drops of its own weight, the thread tension will be released and a lump of filments will form and coagulate adjacent the spinnaret.

stretched to different. degrees and nubs formed While the invention applies particularly to W filaments of irregularly Varying denier produced by the wet or coagulation method and composed of reconstituted cellulose, such as viscose or cuprammonium silk, it may be applied likewise to filaments produced by the dry or evaporative method, more specifically filaments or threads having as a base cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivatives.

It is intended that the process described, ex-

comprising means for forming filaments, a drawoff device, a thread guide mounted for vertical oscillation interposed in the path of travel of the filaments between the forming means and the draw-ofi device, a main electric circuit for effecting movement of the thread guide when closed, a second control circuit for closing the main circuit, and constantly variable mechanical means for opening and closing the control circuit at non-systematic intervals to cause corresponding periods of energization of the main circuit and resultant irregular and indefinite upward movement of the thread guide, the downward movement being controlled by gravity.

2. In an apparatus for producing artificial silk including means for forming filaments; a drawoff device, a thread guide mounted for oscilla tion interposed in the path of travel of said filaments intermediate the forming means and the draw-off device, said guide being operatively connected to a friction clutch, means for irregularly operating said clutch to move said guide in one direction and means for moving the guide in the opposite direction.

3. An apparatus for producing artificialfilaments comprising means for forming filaments, a draw-off device, a thread guide interposed in the path of travel of said filaments from said forming means to said draw-off device, means for causing said guide to move irregularly in one direction including a friction clutch operatively connected to the guide, an electric circuit for effecting actuation of the clutch, a second electric circuit containing wiping contactors for controlling the energization of the first circuit, and irregularly driven rotating cams irregularly moving the contactors to cause opening and closing of thes econd circuit and means for returning the guide to its original position.

4. An apparatus for producing artificial filaments comprising means for forming filaments, a draw-01f device, a guide for said filaments in their path of travel intermediate the forming means and the draw-off device including a con- 4 trolled throw oscillating lever with guide rollers mounted thereon, means' to irregularly raise the lever of the guide comprising a friction clutch operatively connected thereto, an electric circuit actuated by irregularly driven rotating cams and 5 means to lower the lever of the guide.

GUSTAV A. M. H'EIM. 

